Let this be a cautionary tale
I know that you know that everything we put on the internet is here for the duration. Some of us may joke that nothing we write will matter or that we’re never going to run for president so who cares, right? Wrong. Almost a year ago I wrote a piece on my personal blog about a boss I once had who had accused me of not being a loyal employee. I had all but forgotten about this essay until just this week I was communicating with a guy I know who was capable of putting together enough details to figure out who I was talking about. That wouldn’t necessarily be problematic if I wasn’t talking to this person in the hopes of gaining employment. Haha. Whoops.
So in addition to remembering nothing ever goes away, I want to leave you with three more tips. First, make sure what you write will stand up to the test of time. I don’t regret a single word I wrote. The opinion represented could have repercussions and I’m okay with that. Make sure you’ll be okay with the fall out one year, five years, ten years down the line. Second, remember things change. I was completely happy in my job when I wrote that piece and didn’t expect to be looking for a new job. Life’s like that and here I am, looking for a job. Third, make sure every word you put out there is your best work. I knew this person had read my blog when a mutual friend put us back in contact but I didn’t know he’d find his way to a post I’d written in July of 2014.
TL;DR: People dig through your archives. Make sure they’ll like what they see.
First time here?
Yesterday’s kickoff post is the best way to find out our schedule, our latest news and happenings and get a first look at the week’s ultimate question. Make sure you’re signed up for our email blasts so you never miss one again!
If you’re new to yeah write or just new to the nonfiction challenge, please pop over to read our submission guidelines. The rules are a little different for each of our challenges and we’d hate to have to send back great writing on a technicality.
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Just the basics
Today the grid opens for our nonfiction writing challenge. There is a limit of 1,000 words, no exceptions. The nonfiction challenge closes Wednesday at 9:59 p.m. US Eastern. Voting opens one hour later for both our readers and our editorial staff. On Friday, we will publish editorial picks and announce the popular vote winners.
The ultimate question: what happened to the wagon?
Each week our microstories challenge, which opens on Wednesday, gives you an ultimate question to answer in exactly 42 words. Here on nonfiction, we like to offer that question up as an optional prompt. Use it or don’t, it’s all up to you!
Still need a bit of inspiration to get you going this week? Stop by the coffeehouse for a shot of espresso. Every week Nate discusses a technique used in one of last week’s winning posts, and gives two suggestions for how you can incorporate it into your own writing! Check it out!
The yeah write #212 weekly writing challenge is open for nonfiction: personal essays, creative opinion, mostly true stories based on actual events. You can check out the submission guidelines and join us with your essay using the link below.
